Fedorov emphatically presents democracy as something necessary even during a war. According to him, Russia must not decide when Ukrainians can choose their government. Ukraine must therefore develop a legal, secure, and realistic system to resume the democratic process during a prolonged war.
His stance presents a notable political challenge for Zelenskyy. Fedorov speaks of a "systemic governance crisis" and says that people cannot live indefinitely in a situation where they do not understand why certain decisions are made. He also criticized corruption within the government, which he says undermines the war efforts.
Complicated
An important obstacle is the current legal situation. Ukrainian law does not allow elections to be held as long as the state of emergency is in effect. Fedorov also acknowledges that elections during war would be complicated and that a workable arrangement must first be found.
Promotion
For example, soldiers must actually be able to cast their vote. The same applies, according to Fedorov, to Ukrainians living abroad and residents of areas close to the front. Safety and accessibility are therefore among the main issues that need to be resolved before elections can take place.
Protests
Fedorov was unexpectedly dismissed as Defense Minister in July, only about six months after his appointment. His departure led to protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Thousands of demonstrators demanded, among other things, his return as defense minister. The protests have been ongoing for several weeks now.
Although the demonstrations have lost some of their initial intensity, gatherings in Kyiv still regularly attract several thousand participants. After his dismissal, Fedorov could have taken other government positions but rejected them. He only wanted to return as Defense Minister.
His call for elections came almost simultaneously with Zelenskyy's decision to officially nominate Yevhen Khmara as the new Defense Minister. The president asked parliament to confirm him in this role. This further pushed any return of Fedorov to his former ministry out of sight.
Candidate?
Fedorov has not said that he wants to run as a candidate in any potential presidential election. According to his own statement, his call is about restoring the election process. He argues that Ukraine cannot wait until Russia decides when conditions are suitable: democracy must not be held hostage by Russia, in his view.
The office of President Zelensky did not immediately respond to the speech. Fedorov himself has not indicated whether he plans to run in a possible election. A recent poll suggests that Fedorov could defeat Zelensky in a second round of a presidential election. Thus, his call for elections is also a political challenge directed at the president himself.